Monthly Archives: January 2015

Spawning Update:
Herring embryos began hatching out this week along the Sausalito Waterfront. Large dense marks of juvenile herring were seen on our vessel fathometer by mid-week. By Thursday and Friday of this week spawning had begun once again in Richardson Bay (Sausalito) and a new spawn started at Ferry Point (Miller Knox Park) along the Point Richmond shoreline. These areas will likely see active spawning into the weekend.

Commercial herring vessel fishing off Sausalito.

Fishery Update:
The gill net fishery opened on January 1, 2015 at 5:00pm with a quota of 2,302 tons. One commercial fishing vessel made landings this week with a total of 7.6 tons. This brings the total landed for the season to 45.7 tons. Recreational fishing (cast-netting) was observed at Ferry Point. The Herring Eggs on Kelp fishery opened December 1, 2014 with a quota of 19.7 tons but no permits are active this season.

Spawning Update:
Beginning Monday this week a large herring spawn occurred throughout Richardson Bay, including the pier pilings of most marinas. The spawn continued along the Sausalito shoreline and ended outside the Golden Gate just east of Point Diablo. Spawning intensity was greatest at Yellow Bluff and Fort Baker (Golden Gate Recreation Area). As would be expected many species of birds and marine mammals followed the spawning herring through the week. The photo above shows herring egg “trails” deposited on the body of a foraging harbor seal.

Fishery Update:
The gill net fishery opened on January 1, 2015 at 5:00pm with a quota of 2,302 tons. Two commercial fishing vessels made landings this week with a total of 38 tons. Roe counts for these landings ranged from 11-15 percent. Recreational fishing (cast-netting) was observed at several locations including the Sausalito Waterfront and at the Horseshoe Cove Pier (Fort Baker). The Herring Eggs on Kelp fishery opened December 1, 2014 with a quota of 19.7 tons but no permits are active this season.

Other News:
The Sausalito Herring Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, January 25, 2015 at Gabrielson Park.

Spawning and Fishing Update:
Pacific herring are currently spawning along the Marin shoreline from Sausalito to the Golden Gate Bridge and beyond to outer San Francisco Bay. Spawning is particularly heavy near Fort Baker and the area known as Yellow Bluff. Two commercial vessels have made landings and recreational fishers were active at Horseshoe Cove and the Sausalito waterfront yesterday.

Spawning Update:
Over the past weekend herring were observed spawning on the Marin shoreline along Paradise Cove to Bluff Point near Tiburon. The spawn lasted for several days with additional spawn occurring in Keil Cove and Belvedere Cove.

Fishery Update:
The Herring Eggs on Kelp fishery opened December 1, 2014 with a quota of 19.7 tons but no permits are currently active. The gill net fishery opened on January 1, 2015 at 5:00pm with a quota of 2,302 tons. A small number of commercial vessels are currently intending to fish, however as of this update no landings have been made. Recreational fishing (cast-netting) was reported at Paradise Beach County Park.

Other News:
The Sausalito Herring Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, January 25, 2015 at Gabrielson Park.

Dozens of cormorants and pelicans resting during the Richardson Bay spawn.

Spawning Update:
Over the past weekend herring were observed spawning near Coyote Point in the South Bay. The spawn lasted through Monday of this week and extended from Coyote Point Marina along the Burlingame waterfront. Another wave of herring moved into Richardson Bay and spawned throughout the week, primarily in the anchorage area and north toward Strawberry Point. At weeks end herring were still being observed in the deep water off the Sausalito waterfront.

Fishery Update:
The Herring Eggs on Kelp fishery opened December 1, 2014 with a quota of 19.7 tons but no permits are currently active. The gill net fishery opened on January 1, 2015 at 5:00pm with a quota of 2,302 tons. To date the gill net fishery remains inactive as well. Recreational fishing (cast-netting) was reported at Coyote Point during the spawn and some activity was observed in Richardson Bay during the week. Success was mixed for these areas.

Other News:
The Sausalito Herring Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, January 25, 2015 at Gabrielson Park.